Table



Dec. 12, 1944. c. F. CREAGER 2,364,604

TABLE Filed March 1, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Imventor C. F. C R EAGE R Cittomcg Dec. 12, 1944. c. F. CREAGER TABLE Filed March 1, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Zhwentor C. F. CREAGER Gttorneg Patented Dec. 12, 1944 Chester F. Creager, York, Pa.

Application March 1, 1943, Serial No. 477,493

3 Claims. (-1. 312-163) This invention relates to tables of the type commonly designated as party table or game and card tables, and more particularly to an arrangement of sliding drawers in the table top.

While such tables are ordinarily provided with folding legs, such construction is not essential to the present invention. The top of the present table is formed as a hollow housing to receive on each side a sliding drawer in which may be deposited game pieces or. implements, supplies and the like, and also for receiving at each corner a sliding member disposed diagonally relatively to the table. Each of the sliding members is provided with a receptacle for a glass or tumbler and also has a detachably mounted ash tray. The sliding members are so disposed as to be conveniently accessible and yet afiord maximum space at the table side for the player and not obstruct or interfere with his free movement.

An object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well as the means and mode of adjustment of such tables, so that they will not only be more convenient in use, of strong and sturdy construction and pleasing. appearance, easily adjusted and unlikely to get out of order. Another object of the invention is to provide angularly disposed members retractible Within the table top, which, when extended, will be most conveniently positioned for use as retainers for beverage glasses and cigars and cigarettes or deposit of ashes within an ash tray carried thereby. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved table in which the drawers and slides are so arranged within the table top that drawers and slides of maximum size may be employed without interference with each other. Another object of the invention is to provide improved manually operable mechanism for actuating the angularly disposed sliding members so as to automatically project the sliding members from their retarded position within the table top.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting for the ash trays upon the reciprocable sliding members.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved table embodying assemblies of identical, interchangeable parts which facilitates standardization of manufacture.

With the above and other objects in view, as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof and the mode of operation or their equivalents as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is an inverted plan view of one corner of a table constructed according to the present invention, with the bottom section removed and showing the diagonal member in position within the tabletop;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the diagonal member in extended position;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one corner of the table showing the diagonally disposed slide memher in extended position;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 5, showing the ash tray in one of its extended positions; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 6, showing the ash tray in another position; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, the top of the table is of shallow, box-like construction comprising a cover board H of comparatively thin material preferably, although not necessarily, of ply-wood, and a bottom board I2. These spaced cover and bottom boards II and I2 are separated by members l3 arranged around the four side edges of the table top.

The marginal edges of the members H, I2 and I3 may be enclosed or protected by finishing strips [4, which are arranged around the sides of the table top as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Each corner of the table top is rounded as shown in Fig. 1, and mounted in each corner is a sliding member 21 which is diagonally disposed at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with the sides of the table top. Each slide 2| comprises a main body having a bottom 22, upstanding sides 23, formed with outwardly projecting flanges 2-4, and an arcuate front composed of two sections 25 and 26, the

section 25 being formed rigid with the main body portion of the member 2|.

The flanges 24 of the slide are disposed in grooves or slots 3!, as shown in Fig. 2.

known manner, when said member is in the extended position shown in Fig. 7.

The bottom 22 of the slide 2| is formed with an opening 32 for receiving a receptacle 33. Around the opening 32, the bottom has a flange, indicated at 34, Figs. 2 and 8, and the receptacle 33 has an outwardly extending flange 35 around its upperedge adapted to rest on the flange 34 when the slide 2| is in the extended position shown in Figs. 15 and B, wherebysaidreceptacle is supported from thebottom of the member 2|. The receptacle 33 is adapted to provide means for holding a beverage glass or tumbler (not shown).

Mounted on the bottom 22 is a leaf spring 36 which underlies the receptacle 33 in the .manner shown best in Fig. 1.

When the slide 2| is moved outwardly of th gages a stop pin 54 fixed to the underside of the cover plate The outer end 55 of the actuator terminates in an opening 56 formed in the finishing strip |4. Also within the opening 56 is a push button 51 (see Fig.3) adapted to be moved inwardly in order to operate the actuator 48.

When the button 51 is pushed inwardly, the actuator. 48 is moved inwardly, and the inner end '50 thereof forces the latch42 to swing on the pivot 43, 'thereby disconnecting the hook-shaped end of the latch arm 44 from the hook-shaped end or the latch 4|. The moment the latch is re- .leased the springs 38 pull the slide 2| outwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown. invFig. 4.

Fixed to the underside of the cover board .adjacent to each :spring 38, are stops 59. These table top from the position shown in Fig.6 tothe position shown in Fig. 5, the receptacle 33 drops down by its own weight from .the positionshown in Fig. 2 to the position shownin-FigB.

When :therslide 2| is being .slid inwardly :of the table .top from the extended position shown .in

Fig.5 to the.closed position-shown in Fig. f1,ithe spring 36 acts as a cam and urges the receptacle .33 upwardly so that when the slide 2| has completed its inward movement the receptacle 33 :will be disposed in the position therein shown in Fig. 2.

Mounted within the table top and arranged along each-sidenof the slide 2| are coil springs 38 (see Fig. 1).

One end of each spring 38 is secured to the slide 2|, as at 39. The other end of each .spring .38 is secured "to the table structure l3 at th point -40.

When the/slide ;2| is disposed within the table .top the springs 38 are extended and under tenson.

A latching mechanism is provided for retaining the slide 2| in closed positi'on'in'the table top,'said latching mechanism being adapted to release the 'sli'de 2| when it'is desired to have the same in the 'extendedpos'ition shown'in Fig. '5.

A latch member 4| is fixed to the inner end 'of the slide 2|, 'and a latch member 42 is pivotally 'mountedas at 43, on the under face of the cover board The latch 42 has two arms 44 and 45. The arm 44 has a hook-shaped end adapted to engagethe hook-shaped end of the latch -4| when the slide 12| is in retracted position in the table top. A coil spring 45 has one end'secured'to the arm 44,

and its other end secured to a pin 41 depending from the underside of the table top H. The

spring 46 is adapted to pull the latch 42 in the direction in which the extremity of the arm 44 is in the path of movement of 'the latch 4|.

For operating the latch 42, an actuator 48 is provided. This actuator comprises a rod slidably mounted in brackets 49 mounted on the underside of the cover board The inner .end of the spring being connected to a ,pin 53 fixed to the 7 table top structure. The spring 52 is arranged substantially in parallelrelationship to the actuator 48', so as to tend to pull the actuator outwardly of the table top. The outward movement of the .actuator48 is'limited when the bar 5| enstopsareadapted to be engaged by pins 60 mounted onlaterallyextending portions 6| of the slide .21., so .as to limitthe outward movement .of-said islide.

Ihetouterendof each portionlil is formed with a fiat surface 62 adapted .to bear against the sur- .face oi-a guide amember 83 fixed in the table top, ElSfShOWI'l'bBSt in Figs. 1 and 4.

The ash tray drawer 21 is movable independently with respect to the slide .2.|. That is to say, when desired the drawer ZIcanbe disposed in an extended position when the slide 2| is .in either aclosed position asshown in Figs. 6 and 7, or in .the extended position shown in Fig. 5.

. opening formed in the bottom of .said slide memher, a receptacle disposed in said opening and having a peripheral flange for supporting the receptacle from the bottom of the slide member, said receptacle being movable freely rectilinearly within said slide member, said receptacle being arranged to dropdown by its own weight when -:the slide-member is moved-outwardly of the table top, and meanscarried by the slide member and engageable with the,.bottom board of the table top for.moving.said receptacle upwardly within the .slide member when said slide member is moved .from an outwardly extended position of .the table top inwardly towards a retracted position within the table top.

.2. Ina'table of the character described, a hollow top comprising a cover board and .a bottom boarcl .arranged in spaced relation to said cover board, aslide member having a bottom, said slide member being arranged in the space between the .cover board and the bottom board and being movable outwardly and inwardly with respect thereto, an opening formed in the bottom of said slide member, a receptacle disposed in said open-- ing and having a peripheral flange for supporting the receptacle from the bottom of the slide member, said receptacle being movable freely rectilinearly within said slide member, said receptacle being arranged to drop down by its own weight when the slide member is .moved outwardly of the table top, and a leaf spring having one end fixed to the bottom of the slide member and having a free portion engageable on one side with the bottom of the receptacle and engageable on the opposite side with the bottom board of the table top for moving said receptacle upwardly to a position within the slide member when said slide member is moved from an outwardly extended position inwardly towards a retracted position within the table top. 3. In a table'of the character described, a hol low top having a cover board, a bottom board arranged in spaced relation to said cover board, and marginal members interposed between said cover board and said bottom board, a space formed between the marginal members at the corner of said table top, a slide member having 7 a bottom, said slide member being diagonally disposed in the corner of the table top and being movable outwardly therefrom through said space between the marginal members, an opening formed in the bottom of said slide member, a receptacle disposed in said opening and having a peripheral flange for supporting the receptacle from the bottom of the slide member, said receptacle being movable freely rectilinearly within said slide member, a leaf spring having one end fixed to the bottom of the slide member and having a free portion underlying the receptacle, said leaf spring being arranged to contact the bottom board of said table top when said slide member is in retracted position within said table top to maintain the receptacle elevated within the slide member, said receptacle being arranged to drop down by its own weight when the slide member is moved outwardly of the table top, thereby moving the free portion of the leaf spring downwardly to a position below the bottom board of the table top, the depending free portion of the leaf spring being moved upwardly by engagement withthe bottom board of the table top when the slide member is moved inwardly from an outwardly extended position to thereby move said receptacle upwardly within said slide member. CHESTER F. CREAGER. 

